How they rated:

Stourbridge 1, Halesowen 0

Stourbridge:

Maher: Not troubled all evening by the Yeltz attack. Collected a few crosses but that was all. 6.

Brown: Solid but hardly tested down the left. Always had time on the ball. 6.

Westlake: Good display from the full-back who also got forward at times and drilled one effort narrowly wide in the first half. 7.

Hayden: Stour are glad to have him back and you can see why. Strong yet controlled showing from the defender. 7.

Pierpoint: Another solid display but he was never really tested. Cruised through the game but always positioned well to deal with any pressure. 6.

Birch: Good energy in the Stour engine room. Won the ball back well and kept things simple. 6.

Powell: Showed some really neat touches and always keen to take his man on. Drifted out of it before being replaced. 6.5.

Yafai: Another who made a really impressive start but later faded. Direct running and good link-up with Mills was a feature of Stour’s early pressure. 6.5.

Benbow: Probably the difference between the two sides on a scrappy evening. Good build-up play and was on hand to provide the winner in the first half. Could have had more but was denied by Platt on more than one occasion. 7.5.

Thompson-Brown: Picked up the ball in good areas in the first half but his impact dropped off in the second period. Did test Platt after one good run in the first half. 6.

Mill: Made a good start and was always a threat down the left. Provided the winner with a pinpoint cross to Benbow and always looked to carry the fight to the Yeltz. 7.5.

Subs:

Anderson: Added some late direct running as Stour did enough to take the win. 6.

Christophorou: Late change for Benbow. N/A.

Broadhurst: Replaced Yafai to give his side some more energy for the closing stages. 6.

Unused subs: McCone, Forde.

Halesowen:

Platt: Made some fine saves in the first half, notably with his legs from Benbow and again to push away Thompson-Brown’s low effort. 7.

Ekongo: Showed good pace to recover in defence, especially when getting back to thwart Benbow in the second half. Good energy against the talented Mills. 7.

Weir: Did okay as his side dug in and battled well against Powell on the Stour left. 6.

Mendez-Jones: A fine showing from the pacey defender. Positioned well to limit Stour in the second half. 7.

Morris: Another strong display against Benbow. Stour always looked dangerous but the Yeltz rearguard, led by Morris, stood strong, 7.5.

Murphy: Solid if unspectacular. Worked hard. 5.

Rea: One fine block on Benbow in the first half and was always on hand to protect the back line. 6.5.

Akubuine: Got around the pitch well but couldn’t have an impact going forward. Replaced with an injury late on. 6.

Wright: Strong at times to hold the ball up but failed to make his mark as the Hales forward line couldn’t get a foothold. One free-kick that he fired over the bar. 5.5.

Hughes: Struggled to have any sort of impact with the supply line. Easily dealt with and cut an isolated figure at times. 5.

Gilpin: Another of the Town forwards that couldn’t get involved as he’d have wanted. Too often Yeltz attacks broke down in the final third. 5.

Subs:

Kelly: Replaced Hughes but could have an impact. 5.

Lawton: Another off the bench that didn’t offer anything in the final third. 5.

Dallow: Replaced Gilpin but didn’t manage to get involved enough. 5.

Unused subs: Wheatly, Ward.